Hat holder



July 10, 1951 M. BARD ETAL 2,559,699

HAT HOLDER Filed March 29, 1950 5 INVENTORS /7 Me/wn Bard J g 5 5y late/7e Bard J EA.

Patented July 10, 1951 Y OFFlCE HAT HOLDER Melvin Bard and la Lene Bard, San Francisco, Calif.

Application March 29, 1950, Serial No. 152,531

1 Claim. 1 V

This invention relates to improvements in hat holders and has particular reference to a device wherein hats may be stored, transported and individually separated, one from the other.

A further object is to produce a device wherein the hats may be instantly available, by merely raising a shelved arrangement and removing a hat therefrom without disturbing any of the other hats in the receptacle.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the various shelves so as to accommodate hats of various heights.

A further object is to provide means whereby the hats may be supported above the receptacle during the period of selection, if so desired.

A still further object is to produce a device which is neat in appearance, economical to manufacture and one which is well within the purchase price of the average user.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is a vertical cross section of our hat holder,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing the manner of supporting the shelf arrangement on the top of the receptacle.

It is common practice to place hats in hat boxes, either one to a box or several may be placed in the same box, one resting upon the other the result being that when it is desired to select a hat or to remove one therefrom, it may be necessary to remove one or more hats in order to secure the one desired. Or, if but a single hat is positioned in the box, then it is necessary to carry several hat boxes to accommodate for each individual hat.

Applicants have, therefore, devised a hat holder wherein it is possible to carry several hats in stacked relation without the hats resting upon one another and also to provide means whereby any individual hat may be instantly selected without disturbing the other hats.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the

numeral 5 designates a receptacle here shown as a round receptacle, having a cover 6, which cover is held to the receptacle by a series of pins I, having their inner ends engaging bayonet slots 8 (see Fig. 5).

Attached to the cover 6, is a handle 9, the fastening elements of which also serve to secure thereto the top portion H, of a U-shaped frame having arms I2 and I 3.

These arms are provided with teeth M, which are adapted to engage teeth formed on the shelves and within slots H5. The shelves are shown at A, B, C and D.

As the U-shaped member is preferably made of a plastic material, it is necessary to retain the lower ends so that they will be prevented from spreading and causing the shelves to collapse. We have, therefore, provided a spring member II, which has its ends engaging both of the lower extremities of the arms l2 and i3 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 5). In these figures it will also be noted that the lower ends of the arms are bifurcated so as to provide slots I8 and I9.

The result of this construction is that, when the shelves, A, 'B, C and D, have been adjusted so that they are properly spaced to accommodate hats of various heights, then the frame with its cover may be lowered into the receptacle so that the hats are fully protected against dust and dirt and may be stored and transported; and when it is desired it is merely necessary to rotate the cover so as to unlock it from the receptacle, then raise the handle cover and U-shaped frame together with the shelves of hats until the lower ends of the arms are above the top of the receptacle.

At this time, either one of the slots [8 or I9, may be caused to enga e the top of the receptacle. Due to the off-side weight and consequent tendency for tipping, the bifurcated end engaging the top will effect a pinching action and the parts will be held rigidly in exposed position or until they are replaced in the receptacle. In the exposed position the shelves are positioned directly above the opening in receptacle 5.

It will thus be seen that we have produced a device which will accomplish all the objects above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: A hat holder comprising a receptacle, a cover removably secured to said receptacle, a U-shaped frame secured to said cover and having downwardly-extending arms normally positioned in said receptacle, said arms having teeth formed on their adjacent faces, a plurality of shelves frictionally engaging such teeth so as to be adjustably carried by said arms, spring tension means connecting the lower ends of said arms, each of said arms having bifurcated ends for engagement individually with the top of said receptacle when said arms are withdrawn therefrom.

MELVIN BARD. IA LENE BARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Goodale Mar. 9, I886 Fucigna Jan. 10, 1905 Jarnagin Apr. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden Nov. 11, 1915 

